Refrigerating apparatus



Oct. 25, 1932. 1 G, KlNG 1}8 83,945

REFRIGERATING APPARAEIUS I original Filed March 27., 1924 4 sheets-sheet 1 Oct. 25, 1932. J', G, KlNG 1,883,945

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS origiml Filed March 27. 1924 4 sheets-sheet 2 8o 84- 142 a5 81' 25 97 sa 115114 31 135 Flg 113g. 4 Z" @WMM/ Oct. 25, 1932. J, G, KiNG 1,883,945

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS originai Filed March 27, 1924 4 sheets-sheet s J 56 135 n 5J-1 l 35 43 :z: 54 52 TZ- Y: l TL/17,5, v Iig. A

Mis-W I' 239,5 Mmmmd Oct. 25, 1932. J. G. KING y 1,883,945

REFRIGERATING APPARATUSl Original Filed March 27, 1924 4 Shelets-Sheet 4 1Q8 58) 3e f4 195 10e 97'116 141 115 f 114 la T;- 9 110 v v vw Patented Oct. 1932 UNITED STATES- PATENT `ori-Ica :rasen e. me, or Duron. onto, assrcmon ro rnremmn conromrzon. or nanou, omo. A conrona'rron or mimwm BEFBIGERATING APPARATUS Griginal application led Iareh 27, 1924, Serial No. 702,456.` Divided and this application Iled January 1l,

, 1930. Serial Ho. 420,042.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 702,456, led March 27, 1924- and a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No.

164,743 filed January 31, 1927.

This invention relates to mechanically opera'ted refrigerating apparatus, and particularly to the cabinet for such a refrigerator, which includes a plurality of food compartments and a compartment for containing the evaporator of the apparatus.

It is among the objects ofthe resent 1nvention to provide a simple an well constructed cabinet having suitable covers for ,'15 the -food compartments to maintain the proper temperature within the cabinet, and to provide removable insulating Walls for rendering the evaporator easily accessible.

Another object of the invention is to prozo'vide a cabinet having a metal skeleton supporting frame and means whereb metal inner and outer casings may be carried thereby with the proper insulation between them, particularl at the access opening.

Further objects and Vadvantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved refrigerator cabinet showing the refrigerating unit located on one side thereof and showing ,another position of said unit with respect to said cabinet in dot and dash lines;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the refrigerating apparatus shown in Fig. 1, also showmg how the mechanical unit may be placed below the 4o cabinet; l

. Fig. Sis a sectional view taken on the line @-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1; n

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1;v

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line ,6 6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. V7 is a sectional view taken on the line Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the linev 9 9 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a corner of the refrigerator cabinet with 'the top, end and side covers removed.

My lnvention comprises a fixture for stores and the like, which is adapted to be installed in either a right hand or left hand corner. By the terms right hand corner and left hand .corner is meant such corners as occur at both ends of a wall of a rectangular room or y counter. That is, a corner may be termed a left hand corner when it is to the left of a person facing perpendicularl;r the main side of thev wall or counter having the corner.

Conversely, a corner at the right of such a person is termed a right hand corner.

The yfixture for stores or the like, herein referred to may be rectangular horizontally, and may comprise a food compartment section alongside of a machinery compartment section. This fixture is adapted to vbe installed in either a right hand or left hand 7,-, corner with the machinery compartment section away from the corner, and with the refrigerant connections away from the fixture walls adjacent theY corner, for the purpose of allowing ready access to these parts.

As one embodiment of my invention thes'e sections may be made separable, thus allowing the fixture to Ibe assembled and installed with the machinery compartment section away from the corner. The refrigerant cong5 nections are such that they areaway from the fixture walls adjacent the corner. Thus, I

may provide a food compartment section as a food cabinet or suba'ssembly and the machinery compartment section as a machinery 9o cabinet or subassembly. The foregoing advantages are obtained even when the fixture is transferred from one corner to the other with its lon 'tudinal dimension in its new position para el to its longitudinal position 1n its original position.

Referring to the drawings, 20 is a food cabinet having a cooling chamber or unit 21 including an absorber therein shown as an evaporator 22 and food compartment 23. The 190 cooling chamber contains a cooling medium (preferably a solution of alcohol and water) in which e evaporator and food compartment are immersed. The food compartments 23 are open at the top and are adapted to receive ice cream cans 24 or ice cream in brick form. Each food compartment is provided with a cover 25. The evaporator 22 is connected with a high pressure pipe k27 and a low ressure pipe 28 (see Fig. 3) which are suita ly connected to the mechanical refrigerating unit 30, whereby the refrigerant is circulated through the evaporator 22. The entire mechanical unit is enclosed in a cabinet 31 which is placeable adjacent different walls of the cabinet, and the construction of the cabinet is such that the refrigerant pipes 27 and 28 can be extended through different walls thereof.

Various locations of machine cabinet 31 are indicated at 31a in Fig. 1, and 315 in Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 10, the

cabinet includes an angle iron skeleton frame comprising horizontally extending end rails 35 at the top and bottom of the cabinet, horizontally extending side rails 36 at the top and bottom and vertically extending posts 37.

The ends of the rails and the posts may be mitred as shown in Fig. 10, and are joined at each corner by three gussets 38. The bottom rails carry slats 40 which in turn carry two plates 41 and 42 which are slightly overapped to allow for variation in distance betwen the bottom rails 35. These plates cover substantially the entire bottom of the frame.

. The to rails 35 and 36 support a wood frame vtom of the sleeve 57 rests upo 43 to w 'ch the metallic tank 44, enclosing the cooling chamber 21, is secured. The tank 44 is insulated by bottom insulating wall 46, back insulating wall 47, front insulating wall 48, end walls 49 and 50. The insulating walls are sealed to the tank 44 by a suitable compound such as a bituminous pitch-like material 51. The tank 44 is provided with a cover 52 which is secured with the tank to the frame 43 by nails or the like 54,'there being a gasket interpod between the cover 52 and the tank 44 to prevent the escape of'jcooling medium. The cover 52 carries an insulating wall 56.

To receive each of the food receptacles or sleeves 57, the wall 56 is provided with an opening 58 slightly larger in diameter than the bead on thesleeve 57, and the cover 52 .is provided with an opening aligned with opening 58 and slightly greater in diameterv than the main portion of the sleeve 57. The bead 55 rests upon the cover 52, and the botn a wood block 59 supported b y the bottom of the tank. The bituminous pitch-like material 51.@ underneath the tank 44 is of suiiicient thickness to forma cushion for the sleeve 57. Each sleeve 57 is usuallyl made of soft material such as copper, and in order to prevent said sleeve 1,ssa,945

from being punctured duc to the lowering of the ice cream can 24 therein, a steel disc 60 is provided in the bottom of the sleeve 57 aglainst which the can 24 is adapted to strike W en lowered. Hooks 61 are maintained within the sleeves 57 for lowering and raising the 'cans 24.

The construction herein shown illustrates ortions of the cabinet in section, said cabinet eing provided with any suitable number of food compartments, preferably six. It is to be understood that this number may be varied as desired. The majority or live food compartments are provided with cylindrical sleeves, such as 57 for receiving cylindrical cans 24 for bulk ice cream. One of the food compartments is rectangular in shape and comprises a ysleeve 63 suitably soldered or otherwise secured to the cover 52, the opening in said cover being of the same dimen- Q sions as the top dimensions of sleeve 63. The opening in the insulating Wall 56 is the same as the openings for sleeve 57. An adapter 64 surrounds the opening in the cover 52 adjacent sleeve 63 whereby the opening 58 in the insulation 56 may be made the same as the opening for the cylindrical sleeve 57.

The evaporator 22 includes a header 70 to which pipes 71 are connected in parallel. The header is provided with a flange 72 by means of which said header is secured to the front wall of the tank and located concentric to an opening 44a in said tank. A

73 of substantially the same diameter ring. as t e flange 72 is located outside of the tank 44 and screws 74 extend through said rings 73 and into the flange 72 for securing said evaporator to the tank, there being gaskets 75 between the flange 72 and front wall of the tank and between said wall and ring 73. Pipes 27 and 28 leading from the refrigerant supply are connected to the shut-ofi valves 76 and 77 to the header 70. These pipes are preferably housed by the wall 48. y

Tne wood frame 43 carries a frame 79 including side walls 80 and 81 and a bottom wall 82-adapted to enclose the shut-ofi valves 76 and 77 and the ring 73. The front of this frame 79 is closed by a plate 83 suitably secured to the walls 80, 81 and 82. The wood frame 43 is provided with a plug 84 attached to frame 43 by nails or screws 85. Flug 84 closes an opening in the frame 43 whch provides the top wa l of frame 79. Through the opening insulatin material 86 such as ground cork may inserted to completely insulate the end of the evaporator 22 and also prevent the ingress of air. Since no air can enter adjacent the outer end wall of the evaporator, condensation will not take place thereon.

Conduits 90, 91 and 92 extend lengthwise through the wall 48 from the frame 79 to the outside edge of jthe wall 48. These conduits are suitably sealed to the insulating wall 48 by a bituminous pitch-like material whereby said pipes may be connected to the refrigerating apparatus 30, when said apparatiis is' placed ad'acent diierent walls of and insulation 56 are a cabinet 20. The ca inet 31 for the apparatus 30 is shown mounted upon'the right side of the cabinet 20 and therefore pipes 27 and 28 extend through conduit 92. Conduits which are not in use, such as 90 and 91, are filled with an insulating material 93, jpreferabl a mixture of ground cork and paratlin. Li ewfse, insulating material 93.is packed on the rnduit 92 V and around pipes 27 and 28 i .9 T e eader is provided with an end cover 70a which supports within `the header v70 a iloat valverfor controlling the ow of refrigerant. It is therefore desirable that the cover 70a and the shut-oli lvalves 76 vand 7 7 carried thereby remain in the postion shown regardless of the direction from which pipes 27 and 28 extend. Therefore, in order that the pi es 27 and 28 need not be bent too abruptl ii) brought out through either of the conduits or 91, the conduit 90 is located a substantial distance below the conduit 92, and conduit 91 :'s located slightly to one side of the shut-cti valves. In Fig. 3, the locations of pipes 27 and 28`in different installations is shown by the dash lines 27a and 28a or 27 b' and 286.

The cabinet 20 is provided with a wood cover or top wall 97 attached to frame 43 by screws 96a. I A metal cover 98 of non-corrosive metal such as Monel metall covers the wall 97 and the screws 96a, and is rovided with sides 99 by which the cover is nailed or screwed to the wall 97.

In order to fill the tank 44, the top wall 52 rtured to receive a sleeve 94 extending t rough the f insulation 56 sealed by a bituminous pitch-like material (Fig. 8). The sleeve 94 is closed by a plug 95 to prevent the entrance, between the top 97 and the frame 43, of fumes which might accidentally escape from the cooling unit. The top 97 has an opening in alignment with sleeve 94, closed by a plug 96?), supported by a metal cap 98a, which rests upon the metal cover 98. y.

The metal cover' 98 vand cover wall 97 are provided with openings in alignment with sleeves 57, the cover 98 being flanged at 100 to line each of these openings. Each of these openings receives a food compartment cover The refrgerating ap aratus is controlled automatica y whereby the apparatus is started and stop in accordance with the temperature wit in the coolingchamber 21. The control includes a thermostatic bulb 101 which is immersed in the cooling medium within the tank 44. The thermostatic bulb is adaptclearly shown in Flg. 7, extend throng ed u b insetedthroghfeahef fam openings 102 or 103. `O

the

pemngs 102 and 103,has is tank cover 52 and the insulating wall 56.

The thermostatic bulb 101 is connected with a *pipe 104. The wall 97 is provided with a groove 105 and the wood frame 43 is provided with a oove 106 which is adapted to receive the pipe 104. The top 97 therefore ment 20 and includes top and bottom endv rails 11,0, to and bottomside rails 11,1, post 112, secure together by gussets 117. The angle iron frame carries a wood frame 113 substantially the same height of the wood frame 43 of cabinet 20. A top 114 of wood is secured by screws 96a to the frame 113 and carries a metal top 115 of Manel metal or the like, the ends of which are bent down as at 116 for receiving nails or screws by which it is secured to the top 114. A drip pan 118 is secured to the bottom of the angle iron frame by the guets 117 A unitary structure including a motor 120, a compressor 121 and a condenser 122 is carried b the bottom rails 111. Horizontally exten ing angle irons 123 are carried by the posts 112. Angles 123 carry drip pan 124 which in turn supports a compressor motor control 125 to which the pipe 104, leading from the thermo bulb 101, is connected. The

control 125 is subjected to the pressure with` in thebulb 101 and is adapted to make and break the circuit of the motor for starting and stopping the compressor. The control mechanism is substantially the same as that shown in the patent to Bechtold and Mellowes, Number 1,478,421, patented Dec. 25, 1923. This control is adapted also to render the motor inoperative when the ressure of the water from the main, which 1s used for cooling the condenser 122, is below the predetermined amount.. Water for the condenser s through ho e 103 after. the t er' enters through pipe which leads to a pressure element in the controller 125 for operating the motor switch. Pipe 131 leads from this pressure element to the condenser 122. Pipe 134 is the water outlet. In case the connections of the pipe 130 and 131 at the controller 125 should leak, the j water will be caught by pan 124. Pipe 132 drains from pan 124 to pan 118 which is drained in any suitable manner. 1t will be noted that the drip pans 118 and 124 do not extend entirely across the length of the cabinet. Therefore, all the pipes which lead to and from the controller 125 and the condenser 122, and pipes 27 and 28 which are connected with the evaporator extend through the frame 43 of cabinet 20 and said pipe 104 passes through the groove 139 into the interior of the apparatus compartment 31 where it is connected with controller 125. Arecess 135 is provided in the top of frame 43 and in the top of frame 113. These recesses extend around both of the cabinets andare adapted to receive the flanged ends of side panels 136, and front panel 138. The end panels 136 are interchangeable and can be placed at either end of the cabinet. The posts 37 at both ends of the cabinet and the posts 112 of the cabinet 31 are each provided with aligned holes adapted to receive bolts 140 whereby the cabinet 31 can be secured adjacent either end of cabinet 20. It may be the case that the cabinets 20 and 31 do not fit closely together, therefore a sealing strip 141 is placed in the recesses 135 between the cabinets which will prevent water, dirt, etc., from falling between the cabinets and entering the machine cabinet 31.

The' grooves 105 and 106 which extend to the right (in Fig. 1) of holes 103 and similar grooves 105erl and 106a which extend to the left from the hole 102 are located midway between the front and back of the cabinet 20 so that when the cabinet 31 is located at 31a, the groove 139 will be aligned with grooves 105erl and 106a to receive the pipe 104. Grooves 142 and 143 are provided in the top 97 and frame 43 (see Fig. 3) which lead to the opening 103 and are adapted to receive pipe 104 when the cabinet 31 is located below cabinet 20. In that osi-tion the thermostatie tube passes throu'g conduit 91 and frame 79 as indicated at 1041 in Fig. 3.

Since the cabinet 31 can be placed at either side of cabinet 20, the refrigerator can be placed in substantiall any corner of a room and ready access may bfc had to the side of the mechanical unit 30 and to the evaporator 22. Cabinets 20 and 31 are each provided with one interchangeable end panel 136. Ifrit is desirable to place the refrigerator in a certain corner of a room,`the food cabinet 20 should be placed against a wall of the corner and the front of the cabinet should face the room. One panel 136 is placed on that wall of the cabinet which is adjacent the wall of the room and the machine cabinet 31 can be placed at the other end of cabinet 20 with the other panel 136 on the outside. By removing the panel 136 of the machine cabinet 3l access may be had to the side of the refrigerator unit, for the ready repair thereof'. Likewise by removing front panel 138, plate 83, and insulation 86 ready access may be had to the valves 76 and 77 whereby the refrigerant line 27 and 28 can be shut off, the evaporator and wall a removed, and the evaporator 22 can be unfastened from the tank 44. The thermostatic bulb can be inserted through either opening 102 and 103 according to which end of cabinet 20 the cabinet 31 is placed.

If itis desirable `to place the cabinet 31 in the basement, the panel 136 thereof can be removed and applied to one end of cabinet 20. When the cabinet 31 is placed in the basement the refrigerant pipes 27 and 28 and thermostatic pipe 104 extend through conduit 91.

The evaporator 22 and sleeves 57 and 63 are readily removable. In order to remove same it is necessary only to remove cover 98 and wall 97. 'Ifhen sleeves 57 and 63 can be removed. After the sleeves are removed and the nails 54 are removed, the tank cover 52 can be removed and the evaporator can then be withdrawn.

The thermostatic bulb 101 is also readily removable. After the cover 98, top 97, end plug 108 are removed, the bulb 101 can be withdrawn from the tank 44. By arranging the grooves 139 in top 114, the grooves 106 in frame 43, and the groove 105 in top 97 as shown in Fig. 5, the pi e 104 can extend underneath the cover en s 99 and over the tank cover 52, thereby eliminating holes or notches in parts 99, 116, and 44 for the pipe 104.

, Cabinet 31 is the same height as cabinet 20 and provides, when attached to cabinet 20, a substantially continuous counter therewith upon which ice cream buckets or dishes may be placed when being filled.

From the aforegoing it ma be seen that the evaporator 22 and sleeves 5 may be readily removed. TO remove these elements it is necessary first to `remove cover 98 of the to wall 97. Sleeves 57 may then be remove After these sleeves are removed the tank cover 52 may be removed, and then the evaporator may be withdrawn.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that ot er forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

l. A commercial refrigerator cabinet comprising a frame structure including top, bottom and upright metal members joined to form a rigid structure; top, bottom and side walls of insulating material secured in the corresponding sides of said frame structure and supported thereby; an inner tank niember secured at its top to said top insulating wall, said tank member being provided with a plurality of open top sleeves for the reception of food containers, said top insulating wall being provided with a plurality of openings registering with the Openings in said sleeves and closure members for the openings in the top Wall.

Vse'

2. A commercial refrigerator cabinet comprising a frame structure including top, bottom and upright metal membersjoincd to form a rigid structure; top,-bottom, and side walls of insulating material secured in the corresponding sides of said frame structure and supported thereby; an inner tank member secured at its top to said top Wall, a cover for said tank provided with a plurality of openings, sleeves in the tank in alignment with said tank cover openings, said top Wall being provided with a plurality of openings also in alignment with said sleeves and registering with the openings in said tank cover member.

3. A commercial cabinet having a skeleton metal fra-me comprising structural metal members joined together to form a rigid structure, a top insulating member supported by said skeleton frame, an inner tank having its upper ends secured to said top member, insulating material surrounding Y said inner tank, a cover for said cabinet having a plurality of openings and sleeves Within said tank in alignment with the openings in said cover, and removable closures for said open- 5. A commerclal refrigerator having a skeleton metal frame comprising structural metal members joined together to form a rigid structure, a top insulating member supported by said metal frame, an inner tank having its upper ends provided with outturned anges resting on said top member, a closure member of insulating material for said cabinet resting on said top insulating member and overlapping said flanges, said closure member being provided with openings and sleeves Within said tank in alignment with said opening.

6. A commercial refrigerator haring a skeleton metal frame comprising structural metal members joined together to forni a rigid structure, a top insulating member supported on said metal frame, an inner tank having its upper ends secured to said top insulating member, insulating material snrrounding said tank and secured in the corresponding sides of said'frame structure, a bituminous cement securing the insulation to the tank walls, a closure member for said cabinet resting in said top insulating member, sleeves Within said tank and openings in said closure member registering with said sleeves.

In testimony whereof vI hereto aiix my signature.

JESSE G. KING. 

